salad

#SundaySupper: Asian Cuisine

~ lk529 ~ 16 Comments

Last week my mom was in town to help out with the little man so I could have a less stressful doctor’s appointment during which I had the absolute pleasure of drinking a 10 oz bottle full of sugar for my glucose test. (I passed! Which is good, because there has been a lot of baking happening in my kitchen this month.)

I know my mom likes to keep a lighter diet than I typically cook so it’s always welcome to have my hand forced into healthier options. We had the chipotle lime shrimp and strawberry salsa for Mexican Monday and this CPK remake for a salad night, which we topped with rotisserie chicken (not pictured).

For those who might not know, CPK = California Pizza Kitchen. One of my favorite restaurants that I must return to when I go home to visit. While I am keen to have their spinach and artichoke dip as my entree I have to share the appetizer with the rest of the table, so I order a half size of one of their {quite large} amazing salads. Their Thai Crunch is one of my favorites so I was very happy to have found this Copy Cat recipe. Now all I need is to figure out their recipe for “spin dip!”

This Copy Cat salad fits in beautifully with today’s Sunday Supper theme of Asian Cuisine. (Although, I’m sure it’s far from authentic Thai.) For an impressive variety of Asian eats scroll past my recipe. A big thank you to Amy of kimchi MOM for hosting today’s cultural menu.

Copy Cat: CPK’s Thai Salad

Ingredients for the salad:

  • 1 romaine heart, thinly sliced
  • approximately 2 C shredded red cabbage
  • 3 carrots, shredded
  • 1/2 C frozen shelled edamame, thawed
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
  • 3-4 scallions, sliced
  • handful fresh cilantro, chopped
  • other optional salad mix-ins: avocado, peanuts, cucumber, cooked chicken

Ingredients for the dressing:

  • 4 tbsp peanut butter
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp lime juice
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp real maple syrup
  • 1/2 tsp dried ginger (I used Gourmet Garden lightly dried ginger)
  • 4 tbsp canola oil
  • 3-4 tbsp water

Steps:

  1. Toss all salad ingredients in a large bowl.
  2. Put peanut butter, vinegar, lime juice, soy sauce, syrup, and ginger in a blender. Blend until combined. Add in the oil and blend until combined. Add 3 tbsp water and blend until combined. Add the last tbsp water if a thinner consistency is desired.
  3. Divide salad onto serving plates and individually dress each salad as desired.

*This recipe is adapted from Kelley at http://www.mountainmamacooks.com/2015/06/thai-crunch-salad/*

Copy Cat CPK Asian Salad for #SundaySupper from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Small Bites

Soupy Goodness

Big Plates

On the Lighter Side

Cheers!

Oodles of Noodles

8387592742_f6164fd5a8_oJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the#SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

Honey Orange Vinaigrette

~ lk529 ~ Leave a comment

I’m not sure I’ve mentioned this yet – but I have really loved spring and summer here in Ohio. (Despite Monday’s post complaining about the rain.) The weather barely gets above 90 degrees and the sun doesn’t set until 9! This extra sunlight has really taken a lot of pressure off me when it comes to preparing meals for the blog. And no snow on the ground means I can take my photos outside again!

IMG_3575This particular salad I made at the end of May when my little man was almost 11 months old. At this point he was an expert crawler and good at pulling himself up. His mobility skills allow me to bring him outside with me while I photograph food, which means I’m not putting it on the floor by the window and playing defense. It also means I don’t have to wait until nap time or for my husband to come home first!

I followed Renee’s suggestion and served this vinaigrette over a spinach salad with apples, shallots, and feta cheese.

Honey Orange Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 C fresh orange juice
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 1/2 tsp minced shallot
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 tsp minced garlic
  • 2/3 C extra virgin olive oil

Steps:

  1. Place orange juice, honey, vinegar, shallot, mustard, and garlic in a small blender. Pulse until combined.
  2. While the blender is running slowly add the olive oil. Season to taste with S+P.
  3. Store in the fridge until ready to serve. Separation is normal, shake before using.

*This recipe is adapted from Renee at http://magnoliadays.com/2015/spinach-salad-honey-tangerine-dressing*

Honey Orange Vinaigrette | Sew You Think You Can Cook

Brussels Sprout Salad with Caramelized Onions

~ lk529 ~ 1 Comment

Over Memorial Weekend we went to D.C. to go visit Tara (of Tara’s Multicultural Table) and her family. There will be more on that trip tomorrow, so stay tuned! On Sunday, we went to a Farmer’s Market. We were so happy to have decided to drive so we could actually buy produce to take home with us the next day!

Dale City Farmer's Market

We took home two cartons of big, beautiful Brussels sprouts, a bunch of red beets, cinnamon peanut butter from Sprelly, sweet potato pasta from Gypsy Hill, and some local honey.

I’ve used the peanut butter in a popcorn recipe that you’ll see in July. I’ve used one beet to make some sweet potato beet baby food and another for a beet potato salad, I’m not sure yet when I’ll share that latter recipe with you. The honey is about to be opened (I just emptied what we had already) and I’m still deciding what to do to highlight the fresh pasta. The Brussels sprouts are showcased in today’s recipe.

I had planned on making this Brussels sprout salad a few days after we got back from our trip but a night of feeling ill postponed the dinner plans for when our family was here for the little man’s baptism. With 5 extra people who also enjoy Brussels sprouts I had to expand my supply with a bag from the grocery store. Separating the leaves of the sprouts to create the “lettuce” for the salad is tedious work, the large Brussels sprouts from the Farmer’s Market were very much appreciated! As was the help I recruited from the moms.

This salad does take some time to make, but it can easily be done in stages. And it is absolutely worth it! We’ve never had Brussels sprouts raw before and tossed in a salad with warm caramelized onions and tart dried cherries is a fresh way to enjoy this vegetable in the spring and summer.

This salad makes 8 servings. I paired it with grilled pork chops and mashed potatoes.

Brussels Sprouts Salad with Caramelized Onions

Ingredients:

  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 2/3 C plus 4 tbsp olive oil, divided use
  • 4 Vidalia onions, sliced
  • 4 tsp brown sugar, divided use
  • 2 lb Brussels sprouts, leaves removed
  • 2 tbsp dried cherries (or more, to taste)
  • 1/2 C apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp agave
  • 4 tsp Dijon mustard

Steps:

  1. In a large skillet over medium heat melt butter and 4 tbsp olive oil. Add sliced onions and caramelize for 1 hr. In last few minutes stir in 2 tsp brown sugar and a little bit of salt. (You could also do this in the slow cooker.) Set aside.
  2. Make dressing: Whisk together vinegar, 2 tsp brown sugar, agave, mustard, and 2/3 C olive oil. Season to taste with S+P.
  3. Place Brussels sprout leaves in a microwave safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave about 1 minute. Note: This will not cook the sprouts but will warm them slightly. 
  4. Toss warmed Brussels sprouts with dried cherries, caramelized onions, and dressing.

*This recipe is modified from Susan at http://thewimpyvegetarian.com/2014/11/warm-brussels-sprouts-salad-with-caramelized-onions/*

Brussels Sprout Salad | Sew You Think You Can Cook

A Fiesta Potluck

~ lk529 ~ 5 Comments

I know it’s a little “late” to be sharing a slew of Mexican recipes but rarely does anyone ever eat Mexican food ONLY on Cinco de Mayo! Besides, it’s Mexican Monday!

On May 5th my friends and I had a Cinco de Mayo potluck. As can be expected, our fiesta theme brought everyone out of the wood-works and we had a great turnout and more importantly amazing food!

The day before the party my friend came over to help me make these Papel Picado Banners to put on the bar below the food. I think it really added some holiday flair to the place. And it was fun to be crafting something. Thankfully both of our babies napped at the same time and we were able to tackle this project quickly.

Fiesta Potluck

Here are most of the recipes from the night:

IMG_4821I brought my baby baked beef burritos to the party, which ended up being a perfect potluck food. I doubled the recipe, accidentally quadrupling the amount of black beans, to yield 33 burritos. (I left 3 of them for Stuart) I was able to make the beef mixture while the little man was taking a nap and while he was playing happily at my feet with the tupperware cabinet I rolled up the burritos. I then baked them in two batches (because my oven is small) right before leaving the house. I put foil between each layer of burritos to keep them warm. (I felt like a caterer!) IMG_4822Stuart had to stay at work late that night so I brought my son to the party until he could be picked up. I let him try all of the food off my plate and he ended up eating the filling of three burritos! (I took 8 of them home with me when the party was over and we both enjoyed them for lunch the next day, too.)

Next month we’ll celebrate summer with a BBQ themed potluck!

A Spring Time Potluck Party

~ lk529 ~ 4 Comments

When we moved to Ohio my neighbor told me about a group of gals who get together once a month for a potluck. As soon as we were settled in I knew I had to go with her to one of these events. And I’m so glad I did – I’ve made many friends through this group and there’s always someone new to meet.

The person who organized this club moved at the end of March and I have since taken over the organization. We always host the event at one of the neighborhood clubhouses so all I have to do is bring the collection of plates, cups, and bowls and make sure the clubhouse is cleaned up when we’re done. But the fun part is getting to be the one to pick the theme for the month’s potluck!

A Spring Time Potluck

For April we did Spring. We had such a vibrant and colorful display of food. Here are just some of the recipes from the night:

  • Mango Black Bean Salad: 2 cans black beans (drained and rinsed), 2 mangoes (diced), 1 red bell pepper (diced), 1 bunch scallions (sliced), 1/2 C chopped cilantro, 1 jalapeno (minced), 1/2 C red wine vinegar, zest and juice 1 orange, zest and juice 1 lime.
  • Creamy Cucumber Salad: 1 cucumber (thinly sliced), 1 tsp salt – laid flat and then patted dry after an hour. 1 tbsp sour cream, 1 tsp minced onion, 1 tsp chopped dill, 1 tsp vinegar, 1 tsp sugar – combine and refrigerate for an hour before tossing with prepared cucumber slices.
  • Pineapple Fried Rice: I don’t know if she used my recipe but it was very similar – https://sewyoucancook.wordpress.com/2015/01/23/pineapple-fried-rice/
  • Spinach and Strawberry Salad: 4 C baby spinach, 1 pint strawberries (sliced), 1/2 oz sliced almonds – for the salad. 1/4 C sugar, 2 tbsp sesame seeds, 1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire, 1/4 tsp paprika, 1/4 C red wine vinegar, 1/2 C EVOO – for the dressing.
  • Fruit Salsa: 32 oz strawberries (diced), 8 oz raspberries, 3 kiwis (chopped), 1 golden apple (diced), 1 1/2 tbsp sugar, 2 tbsp fruit jelly.
  • Lemon Squares: 2 C flour, 1 C butter, 1/2 C powdered sugar – whisked and pressed in 9×13″ pan, 20 minutes @ 325deg. 4 eggs, 4 tbsp flour, 4 tbsp lemon juice, 2 C sugar – place on crust, 20 minutes @ 325deg.
  • Chocolate Cheesecake Filled Peanut Butter Bundt Cake: https://sewyoucancook.wordpress.com/2015/04/16/bundtbakers-hidden-surprise/

I was caught up in making sure I had everything needed for hosting my first potluck that I forgot my camera! A big thank you to my friend Emily for remembering to take some pictures. So, I’d like to give her a little shout out – Emily is a very talented crafter and has started her own blog, Emmy’s Crafty Corner! Please go check it out, I promise you you’ll find something unique!

Next week we’re throwing a Cinco de Mayo party – and I couldn’t be more excited! Stay tuned next time for a round up of Mexican favorites, even if it’ll be after the holiday.

Caesar Tart

~ lk529 ~ Leave a comment

Sometimes salads can be boring. Even your favorite salad can end up leaving you wanting more. I challenge you to “fancify” your next salad by placing it atop a tart!

My favorite salad is Caesar and the tart it’s been placed upon is roasted garlic. When I found this recipe 8 months ago I’d been searching for the perfect time to make it. For a side dish it seemed like quite a lot of work. So when we were invited to our neighbor’s home for dinner I was provided my opportunity! Without the added responsibility of creating an entree I could spend my time on this fancy salad.

Turns out you can make this side dish in stages! My excuse for not having made it sooner was simply made invalid. You can make the dressing in advance. You can make the tart shell in advance. You can even shave or shred your Parmesan ahead of time. I waited to dress the salad until we were ready to eat, gently placed it on top of the tart shell, and topped it with Parmesan. Note: there aren’t any croutons in this salad – the tart shell acts as your croutons, but if you simply can’t live without them, feel free to add them to your salad too.

If you want to make this more of a main dish feel free to top your tart with some grilled chicken or salmon.

Caesar Tart

Ingredients for the Roasted Garlic Tart:

  • 1 head of garlic
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 stick butter, at room temperature
  • 1/4 C grated Paremsan cheese
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 1/4 C flour

Ingredients for the Caesar Dressing:

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 anchovies
  • 4 tsp red wine vinegar
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 C extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp sugar

Ingredients for the salad:

  • 3 hearts of romaine, chopped
  • 1/4 C grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Cut off the top of the head of garlic, so the bulbs are exposed but still in tact. Pour the olive oil overtop the garlic. Wrap in aluminum foil. Bake 40 minutes. Allow to cool.
  3. When garlic is cool, squeeze the cloves into the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the butter, Parmesan, and salt. Beat the mixture until combined. Add in the flour and mix until crumbly.
  4. Press the dough into a greased tart pan (I don’t have one and used a foil lined pie dish). Bake 20-25 minutes, or until golden. Allow tart to cool.
  5. Make the dressing: Place all of the ingredients in a small food processor or blender. Pulse until combined. Taste to check for additional salt or sugar (will depend on how juicy the lemon is).
  6. In a large bowl toss the lettuce and Parmesan with as much dressing as desired. Top the tart with the dressed salad.

*This recipe is adapted from Mary at http://homemadecravings.com/caesar-salad-sweet-garlic-butter-crust/*

Casear Tart | Sew You Think You Can Cook

Salmon Cake Salad

~ lk529 ~ Leave a comment

Remember that Not Ketchup I used in my Maize & Blue Chicken Salad for #10DaysofTailgate?

And remember how I said one of the things I had planned for my bottle of Blueberry White Pepper Not Ketchup was a salad dressing?

Well I did just that!

But I didn’t use it to top just any boring old salad. I used it to top Salmon Cakes (that were placed lovingly onto a salad bed)!

I apologize for the horrendous photograph – I’m still struggling with taking food photography in the new house at night.

Salmon Cake Salad

Ingredients for Salmon Cakes:

  • 3 8 oz salmon fillets
  • 1 lemon, quartered
  • 1 tbsp sea salt
  • 1 tbsp peppercorns
  • 1 1/4 C panko, divided use
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1/4 C red onion, diced
  • 1 tsp dried dill
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp dried parsley

Ingredients for Salad Dressing:

Steps for Salmon Cakes:

  1. Place salmon in a large skillet with high sides. Cover with water and add the lemon, sea salt, and peppercorns. Bring the water to a simmer and poach salmon 10 minutes.
  2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
  3. In a large bowl, flake the salmon fillets, discarding any skin and bones. Gently mix the salmon with the beaten eggs, 1/4 C panko, onion, dill, paprika, S+P. If the mixture is too wet add a little more panko. If the mixture is too dry add another egg.
  4. Mix together 1 C panko with the parsley in a shallow dish.
  5. Form salmon mixture into 8 equal sized patties. Coat in the panko and parsley and place on prepared baking sheet.
  6. Bake 15-20 minutes.
  7. Serve on top of your favorite salad mix.

Steps for Salad Dressing:

  1. Whisk together salad dressing ingredients.

*The salmon cake recipe is adapted from Cheryl at http://www.cherylstyle.com/simple-food-recipes/dinner-recipes/panko-breaded-baked-salmon-cakes-recipe/ *

photo (11)

Disclaimer: I was provided a bottle of Blueberry White Pepper Not Ketchup through the #10DaysofTailgate event, however all opinions and statements are my own.

Spinach Salad with Spicy Pineapple Dressing

~ lk529 ~ Leave a comment

Steak isn’t the only way for me to add iron into my diet – another option is spinach. Spinach is also the more heart friendly way to do it too. 😉 So with more red meat recipes, there’s also a chance for more salad nights!

I found this particular recipe when I was going through my very first Secret Recipe Club assignment. And now that this is the second recipe I’ve made from Lynsey’s blog – I am willing to bet my other pinned recipes from her will also be a big hit.

This salad recipe called out to me not only because of the iron rich spinach, but because of the pineapple dressing!

Spinach Salad with Spicy Pineapple Dressing

Ingredients:

  • 2 large chicken breasts, cut in half length-wise so they’re thin
  • 1 tsp ancho chili powder
  • 2 tbsp fresh cilantro
  • 1/2 jalapeno, seeded
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 1/4 C cubed fresh pineapple, divided use
  • 2 tbsp orange juice
  • 4 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 C extra virgin olive oil
  • 8 C fresh baby spinach
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced
  • 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced

Steps:

  1. Season chicken with chili powder, salt, and pepper. Grill 4 minutes on each side, or until chicken is cooked through. Set aside.
  2. In a blender combine cilantro, jalapeno, garlic, half of the pineapple, orange juice, and vinegar. Pulse until smooth. With the blender running, stream in the olive oil. Adjust seasonings to taste.
  3. In a large bowl toss the spinach with the bell pepper, onion, and remaining pineapple.
  4. To serve: distribute salad, top with chicken, and dress with pineapple dressing.

*This recipe is adapted from Lynsey at http://www.lynseylous.com/2012/05/grilled-chicken-and-spinach-salad-with.html?m=1*

 Pineapple Salad

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Chipotle Chicken Taco Salad

~ lk529 ~ 4 Comments

One of my favorite ways to incorporate salads into our menu is under the influence of Mexican Monday. Typically salads are just plain boring, but with big flavors in Mexican cuisine, no salad is ever boring. And creamy dressings are my favorite. This dressing gets a kick from the chipotle pepper in adobo, but is mellowed out by the sour cream and cilantro.

This salad makes for a great lunch or quick dinner – and can be assembled even more quickly if you have left over cooked chicken or stop at the store and pick up a rotisserie chicken from the deli. With black beans in the salad, you could even omit the chicken if desired for a Meatless Monday too.

For a little crunch in your salad, topped with crushed up tortilla chips or the tortilla strips salad topping from the store (they’re typically next to the packaged croutons).

Chipotle Chicken Taco Salad

Ingredients for dressing:

  • 1 chipotle pepper in adobo*
  • 1/3 C packed fresh cilantro
  • 2/3 C sour cream
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • juice of 1 1/2 limes
  • 2 tsp apple cider vinegar

*for a milder dressing remove seeds from pepper, for a spicier dressing include some of the adobo sauce

Ingredients for salad:

  • 1-2 chicken breasts, cut into strips
  • 1 head of lettuce, chopped
  • grape tomatoes, halved
  • red onion, thinly sliced
  • canned black beans, drained and rinsed
  • canned corn, drained and rinsed
  • avocado, diced
  • red bell pepper, thinly sliced

Steps:

  1. Season chicken with S+P. In a non-stick skillet, cook chicken over medium-high heat in a little bit of olive oil.
  2. Place dressing ingredients in a food processor or blender. Pulse until smooth. Adjust seasonings to taste.
  3. In a large bowl combine salad ingredients with cooked chicken. (Note: I didn’t specify amounts for the salad ingredients, use any or all to create your perfect salad!)
  4. Toss salad with as much dressing as desired.

*This recipe is adapted from David at http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/chipotle-chicken-taco-salad-10000001215905/*

Chipotle Taco Salad